Word
consolation
Phoneticscon·so·la·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkɑnsəˈɫeɪʃən/
UK/kɒnsəlˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01comfort
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the comfort you feel when someone is kind to you after something bad happens.
n. the state of being consoled or the act of providing emotional comfort during a period of grief or disappointment.
“It was a great consolation to know that all her friends were there to support her.”
“The letters of sympathy from former colleagues provided a small measure of consolation during his long recovery from the accident.”
02a small prize or benefit
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. a small prize or benefit given to someone who has lost a competition.
n. a prize or advantage awarded to a runner-up or loser as a gesture of recognition.
“He didn't win the tournament, but he received a medal as a consolation.”
“The team took home the bronze medal as a consolation after their disappointing defeat in the semi-finals.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“One minor consolation from Wolves’ relegation is that the video assistant referee is no longer their problem.” “The consolation for Hearts is a place in the Conference League playoffs, where they will face Rapid Vienna of Austria.” Etymology
From Old French consolacion (French consolatio), from Latin cōnsōlātiō, from the deponent verb cōnsōlor (“I console, encourage”) with the -tiō suffix, while cōnsōlor comprises the intensifying prefix con- with the deponent verb sōlor (“I comfort, console”). Equivalent to console + -ation. Doublet of consolatio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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